"Surprised by How Handsome Lee Jae-yong Was in Middle School," Sami Ja Shares Unexpected Connection

Met Chairman Lee Jae-yong at a Samsung Event When He Was a Middle School Student

Actress Sami Ja (86) recalled the memory of being invited to a Samsung event in the past, where she met Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, who was a middle school student at the time. Screenshot from the YouTube channel "Not Omija but Sami Ja"

Actress Sami Ja (86) has revealed a story from her past about meeting Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, when he was a middle school student.

Recently, a video titled "Will such happiness come again in Sami Ja's life? It brings tears of joy" was posted on Sami Ja's YouTube channel, 'Not Omija but Sami Ja.' In the video, Sami Ja is shown dining at a five-star hotel restaurant with her husband, Kim Kwansoo, reminiscing about the past.

When the production team asked, "Have you ever dined in a place like this?" Kim Kwansoo replied, "I've been to almost all the famous hotels. I think I went to a hotel at least once a week for nearly three years."

He continued, "Sami Ja was an exclusive talent at TBC. Her distinctive look made other broadcasters reluctant to invite her. The TBC chairman adored her. Whenever there was a birthday party at a hotel, she was always invited," recalling how things were back then.

Actress Sami Ja (86) recalled the memory of being invited to a Samsung event in the past and meeting Lee Jae-yong, then a middle school student and now Chairman of Samsung Electronics. Screenshot from YouTube channel "Not Omija But Sami Ja"

He also explained how Sami Ja came to attend events organized by the Samsung family. Kim Kwansoo said, "Since my wife was an exclusive talent at TBC, whenever there was a major event at Samsung, she would often be invited to those parties."

In response, Sami Ja recalled, "You know Chairman Lee Jae-yong? When he was in the third year of middle school, he came along with his younger sister, Lee Boo-jin, and others," recounting her memories of the time.

Hoam Lee Byung-chul, the former chairman, is inspecting the printing press at The JoongAng Ilbo. Former chairman Lee Byung-chul (right in the photo), former JoongAng Ilbo chairman Hong Jin-gi (left in the photo), former chairman Lee Kun-hee (behind chairman Lee Byung-chul), and young Lee Jae-yong (center in the photo). Samsung Group, 1965.

She particularly noted how impressive Chairman Lee Jae-yong looked in his school days, saying, "I wondered how someone could be that handsome. His face turned red as he held the hands of his two younger sisters like this," she remembered.

Sami Ja said, "I still remember how he looked in the third year of middle school. Even now, I have a motherly feeling in my heart," adding that, even after several decades, she still vividly recalls that moment.

Born in 1940, Sami Ja debuted as a first-generation voice actor at Dong-A Broadcasting in 1963 and transitioned into acting after joining TBC as a specially recruited talent in 1966. Her husband, Kim Kwansoo, is also a former KBS open recruitment talent.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.